Snow pusher build

[204saskman]

Well after reading " The Haymakers" thread on his snow pusher build it make me think about building one. So i had some thin metal bent up(12gauge or 1/8") but figured it was to thin as it just warped to easy(twisted). So i called the local machine shop and asked them when they could bend me some metal. I went in today and they did it while i waited. Had it all bent up out of 1/4" Metal(bought a whole 4'x8' sheet). I had them sheer it at 24"x 72" and then had them bend it at 6" down on both ends at a 45* angle. There is 12" center on but i had them bend up a 4"x4" angle to brace the bottom. I also had them sheer up sides with knotched corners and the sides are 24"x24". I have an old grader blade with a brand new edge on it. Im going to have to brace it up a bit on the back like a back bone but i should be into the balde for under 500 when all said and done. I will post some pics up tonite. Im also going to attempt my luck at building a SSQA for it too.

 

[snowjoker]

You could have just found an old snowplow and boxed the ends in for way less than $500..

 

[204saskman]

You could have just found an old snowplow and boxed the ends in for way less than $500..

I wish i could have just done that. The cheapest plow i could find to buy was 1500 and the cheapest dozer/blaee for a tractor that i could find to buy was 1300+ and i didnt need the frame. The cheapest push i found to buy was 1500 and it was very lightly built(1/8" and hardly any bracing). Im gonna be into this build for less than 5-600 bucks and i like building my stuff so i know what the quality is like unlike some of the stuff a guy purchases. I should be done most of the build tonite as i got all of the material that i need. Its gonna take me a bit to get the QA built but once you build one the next will be easier.

 

[204saskman]

Well here is some pictures of my build so far, Im not done yet, just got the pusher welded. I am going to build my SSQA for it first and install it onto the pusher first then im going to run my bracing into it to tie it all together. Let me know what you all think.

Metal from the shop with the new cutting edge installed.

Skid shoes build out of 3/8"x2"W flat iron

Tacked all together and squared it up. The blade was off by about 3/8" from side to side, had to put a solid tack and put my loader on one side and my trusty 36" pipe wrench on the oher and it took the twist out with no problems.

This is how i braced the angled parts at the bottom. That is all 1/4" material i used to brace it with. I also welded the sides from top to bottom on the back and will be on the front also for added support. The angle is set up so i can weld up mu SSQA and weld it directly onto the back of the pusher.

Here is a top view. I added the smaller braces at the bottom to take some flex out of the side plates. They might hold some snow but im not to worried as i would rather it be solid and not bend.

Here is a better view of the backing of the pusher.

Just remember im not done bracing the back yet as im incorperating it into my SSQA so i will have more to come here soon. Should be done in the next few days and then i will paint it up and test it out(dont want it to rust and then paint it.).

 

[The Haymaker]

Looks good! It will be lighter than mine, I may have over engineered.

 

[Gizmo2]

Well here is some pictures of my build so far, Im not done yet, just got the pusher welded. I am going to build my SSQA for it first and install it onto the pusher first then im going to run my bracing into it to tie it all together. Let me know what you all think.

Looks good from where I sit. It also looks like more work than expected, always is.

Looks good! It will be lighter than mine, I may have over engineered.

The wife says I over engineer stuff all the time. I say, "Cause I can".

 

[204saskman]

Looks good! It will be lighter than mine, I may have over engineered.

O its not light lol this thing probly weights over 350lbs already and i still need to install some more bracing and the SSQA. Im guessing its gonna finish weighting in at over 400-450 which is heavy enough i think. I like to over build stuff too, but with the price of steel its expensive too anymore. I dont think ill have any problems but you never know until you test it out, which should be in the next week or so. Thanks for the comments btw.

 

[petes]

20 minutes to add a couple more bits to the front bar and you'd have yourself a 3pt mount boxblade!

 

[204saskman]

20 minutes to add a couple more bits to the front bar and you'd have yourself a 3pt mount boxblade!

Ya i was kinda looking at that last nite lol But im gonna build a box blade next with scarfires and such. I prefer to build stuff as its too expensive to buy from alot of suppliers up here in canada. Were not as fortunate as you guys down south to have a dealer like everything attachments, we pay alot more for everything up here, Including tractors and attachments.

 

[204saskman]

Well i built the SSQA, it was rather easy, beats the 139-300 local guys wanted for them. I built mine all out of 3/8 material so it is very stout. I have just tacked the mounts inplace as im going to finish every thing off with the arc welder tommorow afternoon. I was going to finish it with my mig but im opting for the arc for the mounts. Will have some finsihed photos up tommorow nite i think once i have tested it out a little bit.

 

[Johnp33]

I am planing on building a proper snow plow next year. I am going to use an 8 ft x 4 ft even 3 split it and weld a cutting edge to it flat with end plates. I am a Canadian and retired I will use what I can find or trade for labour. You made a nice build, congradulations.

 

[204saskman]

I am planing on building a proper snow plow next year. I am going to use an 8 ft x 4 ft even 3 split it and weld a cutting edge to it flat with end plates. I am a Canadian and retired I will use what I can find or trade for labour. You made a nice build, congradulations.

Thanks for the comment. Ya it worked out pretty nicely I think. I finished welding up the mounting plate and i tested it out tonite. I will say this, it sure beats plowing with the bucket lol. I do not regret building this. I sure enjoy it so far. I did a little tesat run to see if everything was good. Im gonna clean it up good here and paint it(spray) for now. I now think i need to re think my wleder though. Im gonna sell my Clark 180en and invest into a miller 252 or lincon 255 and a arc welder too.

 

[Johnp33]

What I am going to use is an old propane tank. I have a loader just a 1/2 yard model and even if I bolt the plow to the front it would be faster preferably I will remove the bucket. Three pins.
Paint is always a good idea.

 

[204saskman]

What I am going to use is an old propane tank. I have a loader just a 1/2 yard model and even if I bolt the plow to the front it would be faster preferably I will remove the bucket. Three pins.
Paint is always a good idea.

I have seen a few guys use oilfield pipe(42" conductor barrel) and they cut it into 3 pieces and make a blade. I have seen the propane tank done before and they work but the only thing is they are kinda thin and even if they brace them it requires alot of metal. If i was you(just out of suggestion) i would save up and build one like mine as it pays for the heavier metal. I realize you are on a budget, so am i, but i just saved up and then did it all once i figured i had enough. Just a thought.

 

[EMB5530]

Nice looking build.

Do you think that it may gouge the ground with the bit at that much of an angle(or so it looks in pics).
Let us know how it works I am workin on a blade now too and experience equals expertise. I bent my light duty by using it harder than I should have and am now also overbuilding for a more dirt friendly version.

Again nice lookin build so far.

Eric

 

[Martian]

Looking real good. Wish I had the time to build something like that:thumbsup:

 

[snowjoker]

Make sure your skids go the full length of the sides so you can keep it level while plowing..

 

[petes]

Ya i was kinda looking at that last nite lol But im gonna build a box blade next with scarfires and such. I prefer to build stuff as its too expensive to buy from alot of suppliers up here in canada. Were not as fortunate as you guys down south to have a dealer like everything attachments, we pay alot more for everything up here, Including tractors and attachments.

Heh heh... I must take after my (Canadian) mum then. My mechanical stable consists of a $500 Kubota B7100 (another $500 into getting it going), home built 4ft boxblade (cost me a total of probably $10 worth of welding wire and gas. Metal was all leftover/scraps from work... oh, I did buy (4) $15 ripper shanks to add after using it a few times. ). Latest build was a toothbar, again out of scrap bits for no $. My snow pusher is a project-in-waiting (gave $20 to the local propane fill shop for a scrap 250gal propane tank = enough for 3 blades, already perfectly curved). I've cut out the blades, but haven't gotten around to finishing building the frame... no snow here last year kinda killed the momentum, then spring, then moving to a new "farm" and all that entails...

I find it a lot more fun to try to design around materials I've got, or can get for cheap, then build it myself. $ saved over buying new can be put into tools to make the next build easier ('course most of my tools were used/broken when I acquired them too... I have under $500 total into my 140A MIG, 60A plasma and old heavy drill press.)

 

[204saskman]

Nice looking build.

Do you think that it may gouge the ground with the bit at that much of an angle(or so it looks in pics).
Let us know how it works I am workin on a blade now too and experience equals expertise. I bent my light duty by using it harder than I should have and am now also overbuilding for a more dirt friendly version.

Again nice lookin build so far.

Eric

No i tried it out last nite and it didnt really dif in to bad. I think next time im gonna add 15* more bend to the bottom and try that. Im happy with the performance so far but i need some fresh snow to try it out on. I just tried it on the old snow we got a while ago but it cleaned it perfect. The only thing i would do different next time really is make it so i can tilt it back. with the way its mounted right now it tilts flat when the cylinders are pulled all the way back in. Ill get you some finsihed pictures here today.

 

[204saskman]

Well here is the finsihed product minus the paint.